I agree, the next owner could not like the new cabinets or the old ones. I would also remove the pendant lights, I think you used can converters, ( i can tell by the size of the canopy plate), and I am hoping Im right. When you are ready for market of course, take them down and restore the recessed. Then change all the bulbs to 3500k LED, declutter and you are good.

I'm with decoenthusiaste to paint the cabinets and walls the same. (I don't think they need to be refaced but perhaps repainted in an ivory chosen from the lightest shade of your countertops.) The dark wall color now highlights in a negative way the short cabinets. Leave them as is paint the walls and cabinets to coordinate with countertops and backsplash.

Retro Kitchen · More Info

Kitchen · More Info

I agree with both of the previous comments. Your cabinets are not bad. Save your money.

kitchen is fine as is, although I understand to spruce things up a bit. II dont think that improving that kitchen is what you should be doing if you are sure youre going to sell in a few years. Instead, save your money for a possible renovation in your future home. Im pretty sure thats what the consensus will be.

I concur with other. the cabinets look good. they're a nice classic design. maybe update the hardware and if possible do something to try to make the hinges less noticeable. (would it work to paint them to blend in or would that chip off? IDK, I can't tell what kind of hinges they are.)

if you really must make a big change, I vote for the countertops and backsplash. but only if YOU want that for yourself. don't think of future buyers, who might rip out the new finishes if they don't align to their exact tastes.

as for the space above the cabinets: remove the fake grass, it obviously doesn't fit. either have nothing up there at all, or a few small objects. not too many, or too tall, or it will look too cluttered. do little groupings here and there with items that are different sizes.

NOT like this: items are evenly spread out in a very boring way:

NOT like this, items are too big and look crammed:

Put nothing atop the cabinets so the eye sees the walls and cabinets as one airy space. Again, if you choose the palest background color from your countertops, and go even lighter from that, everything will harmonize, and you'll have a refreshed kitchen.

Thanks for all the ideas. I think new paint may help more than i realized. Any thoughts on the color of hardware?

I would pull your paint color from the beige in the backsplash. keep your door pulls and replace the drawer pulls only. would it be possible to make the passthrough more open?

Brushed nickel hardware will look good with your stainless steel appliances. I second all the people who are telling you to not spend too much money when you know you're going to move. Some people like to buy a house with a kitchen that needs to be remodeled so they can do it themselves and get exactly what they want. One of my pet peeves is when people put brand new expensive countertops on old cabinets. It's like putting an earring on a pig. :-)

I would love to open up the passthrough but it would be a pretty major renovation and i think i would lose quite a bit of cabinet space. I appreciate your suggestion on the drawer pulls. Thats a nice inexpensive update!

Paint your walls and cabinets the same color and remove all objects from the top of the cabinets. I would get subtle hardware. The counters and backsplash are a lot of look together and can be the focal point. Too much of a look on the harware may be distracting.

I agree; no additions to the upper cabinets. However, I would add some dimmable LED strip lighting atop the cabinets. I, too, would get rid of the pendants over the island in favor of can lights and would replace the fixture over the sink with something more interesting/ updated OR just another recessed light there, too.

I'm curious on the pendant lights. Is it because they're outdated or do they just not work where they are?

I like this kitchen but one thing that would have a huge impact to remove and you don't want to hear...the backsplash. It's pretty and it's installed nicely and it fights like mad with your counter.

I like the pendants. They are maybe outdated. That wouldn't bother me. You can put in trendy ones for resale if you have to.

Try covering up the backsplash with paper or gift wrap for a few days. Isn't it nicer?

Kitchen renovations have a high return on investment, but it is still less than 100%, so you will not get back more than you put in.

The best things to do to ensure that your home sells quickly and at that you leave with the maximum amount of money sticking to your pockets and not gifted to the next owner is to make sure that everything looks well maintained and that the home inspection doesn't have any surprises.

https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2021/

As someone who is searching for my next home, I selfishly ask you to do nothing more than paint, if you must. 😁. Your kitchen is certainly something I could live with. It’s pretty actually, though not exact my taste. It’s got a good solid surface of granite, adequate storage, decent appliances. I see so many homes on the market that have been “refreshed” for selling and I usually dislike the updates. Since the price of the home most likely includes (at least some) of the cost of those updates, I have rejected many homes for this reason. Who wants to spend $50-100k more for someone else’s ideas. And tearing that $50-100k out?? Yikes, no. So, selfishly, please, paint only. And keep the walls!! I may be in the minority, but I don’t like open plan. You have a lovely kitchen. Use that money for a fun retirement.

100% what Connecticut Yankee said! We bought our house because it had the 1958 kitchen, not the brand new low-cost flips of most homes in the area. We loved that we could buy a place with a good floor plan, evidence of good maintenance, and no extra cost for a kitchen we would rip out anyway.

That said, I agree with Fori that a backsplash change would make a huge difference. It's lovely, but it doesn't play nice with the countertop, and backsplashes are a cheaper switch than countertops. Do it for yourself, to have a better feel in the room. And do other small upgrades suggested here IF they make your life happier while you live there.

They are both dated and not working for where they are, please do not buy new ones, trust me people wil be happy you have recessed.

on the passthrough, I just meant make it taller, not wider.

Paint the walls the same color as the cabinets. Replace the backsplash with plain tiles. Add another double electrical outlet in the backsplash near the small lamp so you can use a nightlight there instead. Replace pendants with recessed lighting. None of this will cost an arm and a leg. It will look much more in tune with today's styles. It already looks well maintained.

Thanaks for all the great ideas! It has really helped me see my kitchen much more objectively. I'm going to paint, get rid of the pendants and go for a neutral backsplash.

Something else to consider, change the molding that is on top of the cabinets to something slightly taller; you have 3" trim on the doors, the cabinet molding looks short in comparison. Agree with everyone else - paint, change the backsplash to something plainer, and get rid of the pendants.

If you have cats some wall mounted steps or some other way of accessing that top space would be very much appreciated by them! Oops sorry, been watching too many Jackson Galaxy videos....